Main task of the PICS project was providing measurements and receiving data on temporal and spatial distribution and properties of aerosol over Ukraine by up-to-date ground-based equipment – sun/sky photometers CE318 of AERONET/PHOTONS network, atmosphere LiDAR CE370. The monitoring of total ozone column and ozone altitude distribution (Dobson spectrophotometer) and precipitable water vaporу (CE318) have been provided at Kyiv/Kyiv-Goloseyev site. One of the high priority tasks was LiDAR measurements of aerosol altitude distribution and properties done with assistance of collaboration with LOA of Lille1 University – the French collaborator of the PICS project.

For the first time the season variation peculiarities of aerosol, ozone and precipitable water vapor parameters have been revealed in the atmosphere over Ukraine. The LiDAR measurements in the aerosol altitude distribution over Kyiv site have been undertaken for the first time as well.

The concept on aerosol height profiles, aerosol layer thickness, its dynamics in various weather conditions have been obtained owing to the case of using LOA LiDAR CIMEL CE370-2 in the Ukraine campaign. The aerosol radiative forcing has been calculated at Top-Of-Atmosphere according Kyiv AERONET and LiDAR measurements using AERONET algorithm and GAME software, separately. In average the regional aerosol radiative forcing is negative (–6 ÷ –40 W/m2). Aerosol is cooling generally the atmosphere over Kyiv, however during winter month the radiative forcing became positive (atmosphere heating, +2 ÷ +15 W/m2).

The PICS project fulfillment allows to obtain high quality experience to prepare the scientific instruments for Ukrainian space mission Aerosol-UA.

The main goal of the project is to monitor spatial and temporal aerosol distributions over Ukraine during 2010–12 using ground-based and satellite (PARASOL) remote sensing methods and establish a long-term open-access database facilitating continuous control of air quality and monitoring of climate changes.

Aerosols change the atmospheric transparency to the direct solar radiation, thereby causing a direct radiative forcing, and also alter cloud formation processes by increasing droplet and ice-particle number concentrations and influencing precipitation efficiency, therefore causing an indirect radiative forcing. The control over aerosol pollution of the atmosphere is important not only because of possible effects on weather and climate but also because of the negative influence on the biosphere and human health.